I am trying to slow down and get back to posting stuff again. I want to share with you a beautiful version of a song that always rocked my core. Pearl Jam's live acoustic version of "Off He Goes" from one of the amazing Bridge School benefit shows.
It's a tune about a friend who pops in and out of your life and loving them regardless...even when you want to hate them.
I KNOW you will enjoy:
Friday, August 14, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Least of These
Last weekend was interesting. It was Sunday which means church, general busyness and a general longing for football season. But this week was to be different. There is a young couple, mid twenties who are basically homeless from our church neighborhood. I have helped them with food on several occasions. This week they paid a visit and brought guests.
A man from the congregation came and got me from the sermon. It was actually quite funny to see his face (considering the conservative nature and general lack of social skill of this fella). “Um” he said, “there are some people here asking for you”. As I walked out, I saw the 2 I knew with 2 strangers. They were dirty and soaking wet (as the previous evening had put them in a rare OR thunderstorm outside sleeping). One of the new guys was shirtless, which of course stood out in a foyer of a church of Christ on a Sunday morning. Someone had brought some veggies from their home garden to church to pass out and the 4 visitors were gnawing on raw cucumbers like they were candy! Their hunger was unabashedly apparent.
Turns out these 2 guests were just kids. Brothers of 17 and 13 living on the streets alone, and my friends had taken to looking out for them. Their story was tragic. Their mother had recently served a 2 yr prison service and once out and clean had move them up here from NoCal for a new start. She did well for a year and then slid back into addiction. Her new descent into meth had been atrocious and she didn’t even know who here kids were, kicking them out in a rage. They could not go to the youngests' father because he had OD’d on drugs 4 months before. For 2 nights they sought refuge in the older kids;’ fathers home, but that ended when he came home in a drunken rage and a violent fight ended with them on the street. They sometimes found a friend to give them a couch. Other nights they sought shelter in city parks. They wanted to know if we had any cash for a hotel room for shower and food.
This day I could not say no. We left church and went to a nearby park so they could get their blankets and sweatshirts from under a bench. My friend Jared helped me transport the 4 folks and 1 dog. We took them to Carl’s Jr. and I have never seen a kid eat like that. They were starving. We then got them a room for 2 nights at a cheap local motel, and cooler of groceries.. The boys were sweet. They were world weary and had trouble looking you in the eyes…understandably. But I was struck to the core that they were KIDS, still. They loved cars and bikes. They loved each other, and they longed for an adult to love them.
I had them come back to church that night for the potluck. Again they ate like they hadn’t in weeks. This time they opened a little more. Some of my teens came over and talked to them a little. A few adults who knew the story were engaging them. They even played a few games with the whole family. They left that night and both gave me big hugs thanking for the help.
That night I could not sleep. What do you do for these kids? And there are 100 more just like them around the corner! Did the shelter and food really help? Should I do more? Less? I was so confused. Why does their even have to be folks like that? Why do I get a nice house? Why are my pantries full? I still struggle for answers. Do you guys have any? What is our call here? What do we do?
Sadly, the kids split after trying to sneak friends into their room. I was not mad. They don’t understand boundaries. They are kids, and have never been taught anything. I have searched for them. I am praying for them. And I sincerely hope I helped a little. Let’s all pray for the hungry, hurting and helpless. And let us be like Jesus….
A man from the congregation came and got me from the sermon. It was actually quite funny to see his face (considering the conservative nature and general lack of social skill of this fella). “Um” he said, “there are some people here asking for you”. As I walked out, I saw the 2 I knew with 2 strangers. They were dirty and soaking wet (as the previous evening had put them in a rare OR thunderstorm outside sleeping). One of the new guys was shirtless, which of course stood out in a foyer of a church of Christ on a Sunday morning. Someone had brought some veggies from their home garden to church to pass out and the 4 visitors were gnawing on raw cucumbers like they were candy! Their hunger was unabashedly apparent.
Turns out these 2 guests were just kids. Brothers of 17 and 13 living on the streets alone, and my friends had taken to looking out for them. Their story was tragic. Their mother had recently served a 2 yr prison service and once out and clean had move them up here from NoCal for a new start. She did well for a year and then slid back into addiction. Her new descent into meth had been atrocious and she didn’t even know who here kids were, kicking them out in a rage. They could not go to the youngests' father because he had OD’d on drugs 4 months before. For 2 nights they sought refuge in the older kids;’ fathers home, but that ended when he came home in a drunken rage and a violent fight ended with them on the street. They sometimes found a friend to give them a couch. Other nights they sought shelter in city parks. They wanted to know if we had any cash for a hotel room for shower and food.
This day I could not say no. We left church and went to a nearby park so they could get their blankets and sweatshirts from under a bench. My friend Jared helped me transport the 4 folks and 1 dog. We took them to Carl’s Jr. and I have never seen a kid eat like that. They were starving. We then got them a room for 2 nights at a cheap local motel, and cooler of groceries.. The boys were sweet. They were world weary and had trouble looking you in the eyes…understandably. But I was struck to the core that they were KIDS, still. They loved cars and bikes. They loved each other, and they longed for an adult to love them.
I had them come back to church that night for the potluck. Again they ate like they hadn’t in weeks. This time they opened a little more. Some of my teens came over and talked to them a little. A few adults who knew the story were engaging them. They even played a few games with the whole family. They left that night and both gave me big hugs thanking for the help.
That night I could not sleep. What do you do for these kids? And there are 100 more just like them around the corner! Did the shelter and food really help? Should I do more? Less? I was so confused. Why does their even have to be folks like that? Why do I get a nice house? Why are my pantries full? I still struggle for answers. Do you guys have any? What is our call here? What do we do?
Sadly, the kids split after trying to sneak friends into their room. I was not mad. They don’t understand boundaries. They are kids, and have never been taught anything. I have searched for them. I am praying for them. And I sincerely hope I helped a little. Let’s all pray for the hungry, hurting and helpless. And let us be like Jesus….
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Nephew
hey guys...meet Tanner Deam McCord, born to my sister and brother in law this afternoon! He weighed in at 7lbs 13 oz. I hear the sis was a champ, following my wife's lead and having an all natural water birth! He's a beauty!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
More tunes
Not that ANYONE cares, but I guess this is narcissitic therapy for me....I am at the office late Sat night and these tunes have been my friends:
Get Up- REM
Bleeding Under Your Eyelids- Blindside
OK Alone- Gabriel Mann
Weight of Lies- Avett Bros
Maxwell's Silver Hammer- Beatles
Caroline- Old Crow Medicine Show
Crystal Village- Pete Yorn
Windows- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Nothing Without You- Carney
Polly- Nirvana
Juicy- Notorious BIG
Going to Town- Afghan Whigs
One of the 3- james
Wasted Time- Warren Haynes
Strip My mind- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hair Down- Cold War Kids
I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You- Black Kids
Somebody More Like You- Nickel Creek
Wild Flower- The Cult
Fee Da Da Dee- The Guggenheim Grotto
Get Up- REM
Bleeding Under Your Eyelids- Blindside
OK Alone- Gabriel Mann
Weight of Lies- Avett Bros
Maxwell's Silver Hammer- Beatles
Caroline- Old Crow Medicine Show
Crystal Village- Pete Yorn
Windows- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Nothing Without You- Carney
Polly- Nirvana
Juicy- Notorious BIG
Going to Town- Afghan Whigs
One of the 3- james
Wasted Time- Warren Haynes
Strip My mind- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hair Down- Cold War Kids
I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You- Black Kids
Somebody More Like You- Nickel Creek
Wild Flower- The Cult
Fee Da Da Dee- The Guggenheim Grotto
Friday, July 17, 2009
Music Matters
Man...a great string of songs can just make your day! I started early in teh office today to get a bunch of stuff completed. Check out this shuffle that I was blessed with:
Pearl Jam- In My Tree
Prince- Diamonds & Pearls
Beastie Boys- Shadrach
Fiction Family- War in My Blood
Derek Webb- T Shirts
Rage Against the Machine- Bombtrack
Green Day- Longview
Jimi Hendrix- Little Wing
Andrew Bird- Opposite Day Reprise
Ray LaMontagne- Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)
Bob Marley & the Wailers- Waiting in Vain
Coldplay- A Message
Silversun Pickups- Checkered Floor
Elvis Costello- Strict Time
Rolling Stones- Love is Strong
REM- The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight
Wild Sweet Orange- Night Terrors
Ryan Adams- The Sun Also Sets
Glen Phillips- Cleareyed
Grant Lee Buffalo- Lone Star Song
Wilco- Misunderstood
Regina Spektor- Time is All Around
Jeff Buckley- So Real
Son Volt- Satellite
Bruce Springteen- What Love can Do
Pearl Jam- In My Tree
Prince- Diamonds & Pearls
Beastie Boys- Shadrach
Fiction Family- War in My Blood
Derek Webb- T Shirts
Rage Against the Machine- Bombtrack
Green Day- Longview
Jimi Hendrix- Little Wing
Andrew Bird- Opposite Day Reprise
Ray LaMontagne- Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)
Bob Marley & the Wailers- Waiting in Vain
Coldplay- A Message
Silversun Pickups- Checkered Floor
Elvis Costello- Strict Time
Rolling Stones- Love is Strong
REM- The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight
Wild Sweet Orange- Night Terrors
Ryan Adams- The Sun Also Sets
Glen Phillips- Cleareyed
Grant Lee Buffalo- Lone Star Song
Wilco- Misunderstood
Regina Spektor- Time is All Around
Jeff Buckley- So Real
Son Volt- Satellite
Bruce Springteen- What Love can Do
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Been Awhile
Summer sees the calendar of youth ministers quite busy...I've missed you in blog land.
Here are some thoughts I have in my head...once again they involve Michael Jackson
read my article at the follwoing link:
here
Here are some thoughts I have in my head...once again they involve Michael Jackson
read my article at the follwoing link:
here
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